Meditation

Why meditate?

Meditation provides a wide range of benefits. Regular meditation reduces the impact of stress on the mind and body. It will improve the immune system and overall health. Meditation has been proven to help people recover from illness and cope with chronic pain. Regular meditation will also improve your energy level, concentration and focus. Meditation will also bring a peace and calmness to your life, making it easier to deal with day to day frustrations and the hectic pace of life. Meditation can also be a spiritual practice, offering an opportunity to know yourself better and to experience your connection to the Divine. It has been said that prayer is talking to God, and meditation is listening.

How to meditate:

Meditation is very simple, and anyone can do it. One of the most common misconceptions about meditation is that you have to “quiet the mind.” Beginning meditators will often get frustrated and give up on the practice when they are not able to make their minds be quiet. It is an impossible task. The key is not to quiet the mind, but to simply stop participating in conversation with it! Rather than trying to stop thoughts from occurring, just observe the thoughts that occur. If that doesn’t make sense, don’t worry; it will when you begin meditating. Here are some tips that will help you begin a meditation practice:

- Meditate regularly. Don’t just meditate when you are feeling stressed or sick or wanting to figure out what to do about something. Meditate when things are going smoothly and easily, too.

- Be comfortable. You don’t have to sit cross-legged or any other particular way. If you are comfortable sitting up, do so. Remember to keep your spine comfortably straight. You may find it easier, especially starting out, to lie down to meditate. If you do, you will probably find a pillow under your head and neck, and one under your knees will make you more comfortable and relaxed. Wear loose comfortable clothing.

- Create a good environment for meditating. This isn’t necessary; you can meditate anytime and anywhere, but this will help, especially when you are starting out. Choose a time to meditate when you are less likely to be disturbed. Choose a place that is quiet. Burning incense or candles can add to your relaxation if you enjoy them. Soft music can also support your meditation. Just create, to the extent that you can, a peaceful, relaxing, enjoyable environment for your meditation.

- Use a timer. Set an amount of time for your meditation. Thirty minutes or an hour is good, but if that seems like too much when you are starting out, just begin with 10 or 15 minute meditations. Set a timer to let you know when the specified time has passed. You won’t need to do this for long, but it can be helpful when you’re starting a new meditation practice.

- Don’t think of meditation as a chore. This is not the same as going to the gym to keep your body healthy. Think of this as a treat you give yourself, a treat that just happens to be very, very beneficial. It can be your “time out” during the day, the few special moments when you don’t have to think about the bills that need paying, the work that needs to be done, or anything else. It is your time to be still and relaxed. Don’t think you have the time to do that? Try it and you’ll see that when you meditate regularly, the days begin to flow more easily and you can accomplish everything you want to accomplish and still have this time for yourself.

- Try different ways of meditating. There are many ways to meditate. Guided meditations, where you listen to someone’s voice as they guide you through the meditation process, are often helpful when you are just starting. Chanting a mantra is another method. There are also dancing and moving meditations. The options are essentially endless, and the various methods can offer some differing benefits.

- Don’t give up! Each meditation experience is unique. Just because it doesn’t feel like you expected it to, don’t assume you are doing it wrong, or that it doesn’t work for you. Keep at it; you’ll see the benefits in time, and so will everyone around you!

FREE GUIDED MEDITATION:

We know the incredible value of meditation. To make it even easier for you to experience it for yourself, we are making our guided meditation available for you to listen to absolutely free. Just click on the “PLAY” button below and get comfortable while you let Nirish guide you through a 26 minute guided meditation called “Simply Meditation”

Simply Meditation

More Meditations for you to enjoy:

Relaxing the Body Meditation

My Peaceful Place Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation

Meditations for Wellness

Observing the Mind Meditation

If you enjoy this site and find it beneficial, please consider purchasing a CD of “Simply Meditation” or “The Union of One” by visiting our shop, or making a donation to help support Love, Live and Laugh!

4 Responses to Meditation

With a 6 month old and a 2 1/2 year old, I could definitely use more pniceate! I’ve been reading “Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting” and I really want to try to make meditation a daily practice in my life.

Tom, life seems to have unlimited aomnut of options and this can sometimes make us feel lost or depressed having a daily routine whether it be meditating or working out is a great way to keep you focused and your mind at ease among the scramble and craziness of everyday life. Thanks for sharing this post.

The OMTimes & Gaiam TV 30-Day Conscious Living Challenge is a program that gives you the opportunity to renew your soul and make small but effective changes in your physical, emotional, spiritual and social health. This 30-Day Challenge begins on June1, 2013. Stay tuned for details.

About Vedam

“I have rarely lived ‘in the box.’ I love to share the timeless wisdom, awakenings, and insights that have come as a result. Begin today your own journey free from the past and awaken into the only moment you have...this moment of NOW!”

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